DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> THE BILL THAT WOULD CREATE AN ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD FOR CHICAGO.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS ADVANCING THROUGH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, PASSING OUT OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE THIS AFTERNOON AFTER PASSING THE ILLINOIS SENATE YESTERDAY.

BUT THE PLAN WOULD ONLY MEAN A HYBRID BOARD TO START WITH 10 OF THE 20 SEATS ELECTED BY RESIDENTS.

THE OTHER 10.

PLUS THE PRESIDENT APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AT A HEARING YESTERDAY.

ALDERMAN GOVERNOR VILLEGAS CHARACTERIZED THE MOVE TO DELAY A FULLY ELECTED BOARD AS A GIFT TO THE CTU.

>> THE CHICAGO DELEGATION IN SPRINGFIELD IS NOT LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

HYBRID SCHOOL BOARD IS NOT FULLY DEMOCRATIC PROCESS.

MAKE NO MISTAKE.

THIS IS THE CTU PACKED BILL.

THE RATIONALE AROUND THE C 2 PACKS CURRENT SUPPORT AND THE FLIPPED THEIR POSITION IS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND OR HAVE MONEY TO SPEND ON THE 20 ELECTIONS.

WELL, TOO BAD.

MAKE NO MISTAKE THIS HYBRID.

SEE TO MEALS, NOT WITH THE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO >> AND ALDERMAN VILLEGAS IS EXPECTED TO JOIN SOME OTHER COMMUNITY GROUPS OR PRESS CONFERENCE ON THIS ISSUE TOMORROW.

NO DOUBT HE DID.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT NOW, THOUGH, OUR JESSICA KAHN.

YES, SENIOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER AT KIDS FIRST, CHICAGO VIA ZOOM.

NATASHA DONE FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BLACK COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE ALSO VIA ZOOM FROM SPRINGFIELD, STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND WILLIAMS WHO REPRESENTS PARTS OF CHICAGO'S NORTH SIDE.

WE ALSO DID INVITE THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE CHICAGO TEACHERS UNION TO JOIN CTU DECLINED.

WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE CITY.

I THINK THE 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM, STARTING WITH YOU, PLEASE.

YOU'RE A SPONSOR OF THIS BILL IN THE HOUSE.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THE CRITICISM THAT A HYBRID BOARD IS BASICALLY A GIFT TO THE CTU RATHER THAN GOING STRAIGHT TO A FULLY ELECTED BOARD.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.

BRAND US.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THIS BILL, THIS STRUCTURE WAS ACTUALLY AGREE TO PASSED IN 2021.

AND IT CONTEMPLATED AT THE TIME A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD WHERE 10 MEMBERS WOULD BE ELECTED AND 10 APPOINTED FOR 2 YEARS TRANSITION TO A FULLY ELECTED BOARD.

THIS IS AFTER LITERALLY A DECADE OF CONVERSATIONS IN WHICH I AND MANY OTHERS PUSH FOR A FULLY ELECTED BOARD.

BUT THE WAY WE GOT IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE WAS TO AGREE TO THAT TRANSITIONAL PERIOD.

NOW, JUST 10 MONTHS OUT FROM THE ELECTION.

I THINK AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO SEE DEMOCRACY COME TOMORROW TO CHICAGO, PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

I THINK IT'S RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A SMOOTH AND ORDERLY TRANSITION AND THAT'S IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHICAGO.

STUDENTS.

>> THERE ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT THIS TRANSITIONAL STEP COULD ACTUALLY BE CONFUSING FOR VOTERS WHO DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S PRETTY CLEAR CUT.

ACTUALLY, WE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE GOVERNANCE OF CHICAGO.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS QUITE DRAMATICALLY.

SO PHASING IT IN MAKES THE MOST SENSE AT THIS POINT.

THIS IS A 9 BILLION DOLLARS AGENCY WITH OVER 32500 32500,000 STUDENTS AT ISSUE.

AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE DO IT RIGHT.

WE'VE WAITED THIS LONG.

MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.

SEAMLESSLY AND POSITIVELY FOR THE STUDENTS OF CHICAGO.

NATASHA, JOHN, YOU SPOKE AT THE SENATE HEARING YESTERDAY IN SUPPORT OF A FULLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD.

WHAT DON'T YOU LIKE ABOUT THIS HYBRID PROPOSAL?

>> WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT BEING EASY REPRESEN.

THE MAN WILLIAMS SAID EASY.

TRANSITION IS NOT AN TRANSITION.

IN FACT, WHAT WAS PRESENT IT AND WHAT PASSED THROUGH IS A VERY CONFUSING AND CONVOLUTED THAT WILL ESSENTIALLY SUPPRESS AND PREVENT IN THIS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ELECTION.

DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASTE AND GETTING WRONG WHEN SPECIFICALLY IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITNESSED AND HAVE EXPERIENCE SO MANY FAILED POLICIES THAT HAVE REALLY IMPACT SCHOOL.

SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET IT RIGHT FULLY ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD TO THAT WE COULD HAVE PRE OF THE PRESENTATION NOT HAND BY THE KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT PEOPLE DECISION AS WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT 2021 MONTHS, THE CTU GAS ALL THEIR ALLIES ACTUALLY FOR FULLY LIKE SCHOOL BOAR.

SO I NOW WHY THE CHANGE NOW?

WHY ARE YOU TAKING THIS OF THE HANDS OF THE YORK?

SO WE'RE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT.

WE'RE CONCERNED BILL IS WHAT IS FRANCHISE OWNERS.

>> I WANT TO GET JESSICA CONOCEN HERE BECAUSE YOUR ORGANIZATION, KIDS FOR CHICAGO, OBVIOUSLY YOU WORK WITH A GREAT DEAL OF WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT THIS HYBRID IS A STEP FORWARD OR MISSED OPPORTUNITY.

SO OUR ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD TASK FORCE, WHICH IS COMPRISED OF PARENTS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

>> THEY'VE REALLY FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS FAIR REPRESENTATION STUDENTS, CPS STUDENTS AND PARENTS ON THE SCHOOL BOARD THAT THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S THE DEMOCRATS RACIALLY REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR CURRENT STUDENT POPULATION AS WELL AS HAVING YOUR EVERYDAY PARENT BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OUR ISSUE WITH THIS BILL IS THAT IT DOES CREATE EXTRA HURDLES FOR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO RON TO EVEN GET ON THE BALLOT WITH THE INCREASE OF THE PETITION IS SIGNATURES REQUIRED AND ALSO PUTTING A MAXIMUM.

ALL OF THAT MAKES IT MUCH HARDER FOR OUR PARENTS TO BE ABLE TO GET ON THE BALLOT IT TO BE ABLE TO SERVE ON THE BOARD AND REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO ANYTHING THAT PROHIBITS OR MAKES IT HARDER FOR FAIR RACIAL REPRESENTATION AND FOR PARENTS TO BE REPRESENTED ON THE BOARD IS SOMETHING THAT OUR PARENTS ARE ARE NOT 4.

IF WHAT IF THIS BECOMES A HYBRID BOARD, THIS DOES PUT EXTRA PRESSURE ON THE MAYOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE HE APPOINTS DOES MAKE UP FOR ANY LACK OF REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD OF PARENTS SPECIFICALLY AND ALSO OF RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS OF CPS STUDENTS.

>> AND TALK SHOW YOU YOU TALKED A BIT THIS HYBRID PLAN AND IT NOT THAT CLEAR, ACTUALLY.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

>> I MEAN, OBVIOUS WOULD BE TO JUST GO BACK AND LET'S CREATE A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS WITH BULLY.

BULLY SCHOOL BOARD IS WHAT EVERYONE PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS WILL WORK ALSO, I MEAN, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, TALK ABOUT THEM OUT TITIAN'S THAT ARE NOW BEING ASKED ONE CANDIDATES WOULD LIKE TO RUN AS 1000.

SIGNATURES, WHICH IS WAY MORE THAN WHAT IT WILL TAKE ROUTE.

I WAS YOU KNOW, IF IF OUR STATE LEGISLATORS IN THE FEAR AND I WE SHOULD SINCE THE ROUTE TO THEIR POSITIONS, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONLY LIKE 20300 PAIRS.

WHY?

WHY ARE ALL THESE HURDLES BE AN OUTPUT IN PLACE?

WHO IS THIS TO PROTECT AND WHO IS THIS THIS BILL ACTUALLY FOR HIS?

IT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, ARE WHAT'S BEHIND >> REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS, I NOTICE HE SAID THAT.

THAT'S NOT IS IT NOT?

250 SIGNATURES REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE ELSE?

AND AND WHAT?

WHAT?

WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO SOME OF WHAT'S BEEN SAID?

>> YEAH.

WITH REGARD TO THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS, WE SET THE NUMBER BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE DISTRICTS WHICH ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SIZE OF THE SENATE DISTRICTS IN ORDER TO RUN FOR THE SENATE.

YOU ALSO NEED TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF SIGNATURES WERE SETTING HERE.

WE CHANGED THE NUMBER WHEN THE DISTRICTS ARE SMALLER TO ALIGN WITH THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.

THAT IS STATE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD HAVE TO GET, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WOULDN'T DISAGREE WITH THE CHARACTERIZATION THAT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THE PEOPLE.

WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT A HYBRID BOARD.

THERE WERE VOICES THAT PUSH FOR A HYBRID BOARD IN 2021, THEIR VOICES INCLUDING MINE THAT PUSH FOR A FULLY ELECTED BOARDS.

AT THAT SAME TIME.

BUT WHAT WE DECIDED TO DO AT IS TO DO A TRANSITIONAL PERIOD, WHICH AGAIN, WILL PROVIDE FOR THE MOST EFFICIENT AND STREAMLINED PROCESS.

TURNING OVER THE ENTIRE SCHOOL BOARD WOULD RISK THE STABILITY OF OUR SCHOOLS.

AND I JUST DON'T PAY CHICAGO FOR THAT.

IT FEELS IRRESPONSIBLE TO IN 10 MONTHS FROM NOW COMPLETELY CHANGE THE GOVERNMENT AFTER DECADES OF DOING IT ONE WAY THIS WAY, STARTING ON DAY ONE, EVERY CHICAGO AND WE'LL HAVE A VOICE AND A VOTE IN THE FUTURE OF SCHOOL BOARD AND THE FUTURE OF THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> AND AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS ELECTION IS IN 10 MONTHS JUST CON US.

DO YOU THINK THIS IS ENOUGH TIME FOR FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO RUN, ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY PARENTS TO GET A CAMPAIGN OFF THE GROUND AND TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

>> IT REALLY IS ENOUGH TIME.

IT TAKES A LOT TO PUT A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER TO GET YOUR SIGNATURES TO.

RAISE ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

AND I'M WITH NATASHA WHEN SHE SAYS THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS RIGHT.

AND WE WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF OUR PARENTS AND THOSE THAT ARE GOING TO BE MOST IMPACTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I KNOW REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IS GOING TO GIVE VOICE AND VOTE TO ALL CHICAGOANS.

BUT THAT'S NOT TRUE BECAUSE NON CITIZENS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE ELECTIONS NOR RUN FOR FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD.

AND OF COURSE, ALL BE WATCHING THE HOUSE TOMORROW TO SEE WHAT IT DECIDES, WHETHER OR NOT THIS BILL ENDS UP ON THE GOVERNOR'S